In this article we will talk about long turmeric, consider all its most useful properties, as well as contraindications for use. The process of growing this spice at home will also be described.
General information
Turmeric longa is a stunningly beautiful plant of the ginger family. It grows to a height of about a meter. The exotic appearance of turmeric is given by the combination of simple oval leaves and beautiful colored stipules, in the axils of which yellow flowers develop. But the main popularity of the plant was not because of the flowers. All useful properties are contained in the rhizomes of long turmeric.
The tuberous rhizome develops to a size of no more than five centimeters in diameter, has a yellowish-gray color and a burning taste. There are several names for this plant: home long turmeric, turmeric, Indian saffron and yellow ginger. Indochina is considered the birthplace of this herbaceous plant, from which it gradually began to be cultivated in India, China and Greece. And closer to the XVIII century, long turmeric came to the countries of Europe.
Benefits of turmeric
You can list all the useful properties of this fragrant spice indefinitely, but we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most common ones. Not the first thousand years, long turmeric has been one of the main components of Ayurvedic medicine. In India, this spice is actively used for skin fungus, hemorrhoids and various intestinal diseases. Thais with the help of turmeric root powder skillfully cope with stomach and intestinal ulcers, as well as diseases of the urinary system. Traditional medicine recipes are passed down from generation to generation.
To date, the benefits of turmeric for inflammation of the muscles and joints, bacterial and viral infections have been proven. It also helps with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and skin diseases.
Contraindications for use
Despite the incredible number of useful properties, long turmeric has its own contraindications, in which its use is highly undesirable. These include:
- blockage of bile ducts;
- cholelithiasis;
- prone to thrombosis (because turmeric thickens the blood).
During the period of treatment with strong chemical preparations, the use of spices should be avoided, because it greatly enhances their effect.
Use in cosmetology
For a long time, the peoples of Asia have used the beneficial properties of long turmeric for cosmetic purposes. Fragrant spice has not only amazing taste andaromatic qualities, but also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. That is why it is most often used for skin diseases such as acne, chickenpox, eczema, pustular rash, etc.
Long turmeric juice has an excellent ability to stimulate skin regeneration, which can speed up the healing process of minor wounds and scars. Excellent pore cleansing can be achieved using a paste prepared from the fresh roots of the plant. Turmeric should be in the arsenal of every girl who uses natural products for face and body care.
Growing a plant at home
Turmeric is a rather whimsical plant, so it is worth considering a few of the most important points for growing it at home. First, make sure you have enough lighting. Long turmeric loves both rich and diffused light. It is best to place the plant pot on the east or west side of the room. After all, too bright sun rays in the south will simply burn the tender leaves. And on the north side, the sunlight will not be enough, because of which the leaves quickly lose their rich color.
The air temperature in the room with turmeric in the warm season should not exceed 22-24°C. With the onset of autumn, it is necessary to gradually reduce this figure to 10-15 ° C. It is this temperature that will allow the plant to overwinter without much difficulty.
Long turmeric is a moisture-loving plant. An indispensable condition for the cultivation of this spiceis high humidity, which is achieved by saturated watering and spraying the leaves. But this must be done with great care. If excess moisture gets on the flowers, then they can become covered with brown spots from interaction with water. Watering is done every 2-3 days in spring and summer. As soon as you notice the drying of the top of the soil. In autumn and winter, gradually reduce the frequency of watering. It is very important not to allow water to stand in the turmeric pot while the rhizome is dormant.
It is advisable to fertilize the soil during the growing season, which lasts from April to September. Enough 1-2 dressings per month. Mineral and organic fertilizers must be alternated.
As soon as the turmeric has completely faded, cut off the branches, leaving no more than 10 centimeters in length. Don't be intimidated by the process of leaf death, which begins in late autumn. This is how the plant prepares for a state of long dormancy.
Powder preparation
Surely you have rarely seen the sale of turmeric in the form of roots. And this is not surprising. After all, before getting on the shelves, the spice goes through several stages of preparation. To begin with, freshly dug rhizomes are washed well and boiled. Choose mainly the long roots of the lateral parts of the plant. To give spices a characteristic yellow color, special natural dyes are used. Boiled roots are thoroughly dried, peeled and ground into powder.
Now you know what long turmeric is, why it is useful, where it is used.
